Haaaa!!!
Joan dashed with all his might. This time was a little bit faster. Pushing himself to the limit will only hasten his growth. Knowing this, he used his strength more than before. Keeping his speed rose higher and higher, his dexterous movements were pushed to the limits.
His vitals were expanding, making his vitality rose. The focus was on its limits and was expanding his mind's capacity. He was undergoing monstrous growth while pushing his all. It was called none other than [Stat cultivation]. A skill that Joan created when he was training the heroes since their young selves and other students on the academy.
[Stat cultivation]–a passive skill of Joan that will become active once one's limits were pushed to the brim. Further increasing his stats when he was doing exercises or when getting all out.. The skill was on its highest level as Joan comprehended it in the past. Etching the very skill upon his soul.
Joan was getting nearer and nearer towards the proctor. Seriousness was on his face and his eyes were like a fierce tiger. The proctor saw it and was amazed by it. He didn't imagine this person will be cannon fodder himself. More so, he has the making of a great adventurer. Making him have a job class was on his mind and he can't help but be ashamed that he has no job class currently. If he had one, he will be a force to be reckoned with.
Joan smashed his sword at him. Left and right then dashed towards his blind spot. Attacking his back but it was blocked. Doing the same process in the next ten slashes, almost imitating the [Multi slash] without using the skill. Given the circumstances, the proctor was almost dumbfounded. Whether Joan lied about writing jobless or not, Joan did imitate it. But still, the proctor didn't felt mana from it. Nor mana was used in the process. He felt that still, he executed was not a skill. It was still very impressive on his part as it was purely physical prowess and physical manoeuvre of his hands and feet.
'This kid sure is something. His battle instinct was way ahead of his age. But his body is barely keeping up with his talent. I am sure he will be a great adventurer someday,' The proctor said in his mind.
The proctor then felt that it was time. Time for making him test his limits. Whether he was still hiding his potential or it was his current bodily limits. He grinned and then, his blocks became deflects, then counters.
Joan slashed and dashed but they were disheartening on his part. They were rather lacking the speed that was needed for better performance.
He slashed but he just made his slash slide then kicked him on the stomach. Joan stopped his kick midway by his right hand. Imitating a gentle fist and landed on his sole. Making Joan pushed away and mitigated the kick not to land on his stomach. Also making him thrown from him on the process.
He was propelled apart from him and his hands ached in the process. He was able to tolerate the damage and his vitality was luckily enough to endure it. Making him almost worry as his kick was able to break bones if his stats were slightly lower. Joan was flung and then he trusted his sword on the tile floor. He gasped air after the strong push was made and he stared at his front.
His enemy was not there and so he felt that he was so fast to disappear on his sight. He was able to feel amiss and felt a small gush of air right on his back. Ducking on time when a sword passed right above him.
"Whoo! That was close!" Joan exclaimed.
Just after he said those words. The proctor was on his way to slashing him vertically with his weapon. Making Joan block it then let it slide in the last moments.
Bang!
His sword landed on the floor and it made Joan have an opportunity. It was short but it was enough. Joan then gripped his sword with two hands and slashed it towards the proctor. The proctor then was hit on the face and he staggered a bit.
"Nice, you've made one for me. Do you know why the guild master assigned me to the combat test? Because I am a Holy Knight, and we have a skill like [Heal]." He said then used the skill.
"Nice, let's continue the test. Please," Joan said to him. Making him chuckle.
"Okay, sure. I still haven't seen your limits, let's see where can you get and till when you will last," He said to Joan.
He then held his sword on his front and dashed. Joan dashed with more force towards him. Meeting him head-on. Just as Joan approached him, he disappeared right in his sight. Making Joan jolt on the process. A flash was made and he appeared right on his side. Joan was perplexed as he shifted his gaze upon him. Turning on his side, right where his enemy was located.
A swing was already on his way and he was barely able to twist himself. With more effort made, he was able to evade in the last moments. Still, he was scraped on his cheeks. A rising diagonal slash made him do all his efforts to just avert it.
With him evaded it, the proctor disappeared again on his sight and slashed while being on his back. Joan was amused, he grinned at the excitement he felt. He never felt so weak before his enemy once in a while. Making his adrenaline rush while being pressured.
'This feels nostalgic!' Joan said while his eyes opened wide. A killing intent was seeping out of his body. Luckily, he stopped it before the proctor felt it.
The proctor smiled as he felt that his enemy will be hit while on his back. His fate was set on the stone. He let out a shout while using all his strength to make a vertical slash on him. Just as he slashed, Joan disappeared right into his eyes. He felt it unnatural to slash it in thin air. He almost thought that his eyes were doing tricks on him.
"It has been so long that I am pushed on my limits. I am impressed and felt joy that this feeling was felt again," Someone said on his back. He jolted and to his surprise, Joan was there standing while hugging his sword on his chest. Eyes closed.
"How?" He asked dumbfoundedly.
"Though I regret that I am within my limits right now. I can't move on further as my body is trembling. Sorry but the fun ends now," Joan said to him then sat on the ground. He opened his right eye while the other one was closed.
"Oh, haha. How come you've become faster and faster? I also felt that your slashes become heavier and stronger every time our swords clashed," He asked.
"Well, maybe it was just your imagination. So did I pass?" Joan asked. Sniffing his right pointing finger.
"Ah yes, of course. And one question, how did you evade my last slash?" He asked.
"Now that is a hard one. Well you see, maybe I cope up with your speed? I just pushed myself even though it was overbearing to my body. I will surely have a sprain and muscle cramps. Or even torn muscles by now if you ask me," Joan said.
"Hahaha! You know why proctors are Holy Knights right? We heal the injuries of our applicants!" He said to him.
"Then why didn't you heal the one before me?" Joan asked.
"Well, he walked away with just a few intimidations. Hey! He can still walk without problems so let us just let keep it that way," He said to him.
Joan after that groaned to the pain. He then felt that his body was taking the toll of pushing himself to his limits. Even executing stats way above him made his muscles torn apart. He can only bit his lips while holding his aching body parts. Just as he wanted to collapse, the proctor then was alarmed and then used his spell on him.
[Heal]
It was then, his aching muscles felt lighter. He was amazed by its effectiveness as he felt that his pain was relieved. Though he can do it himself, he still didn't want to give in because he signed that he was jobless. Not until he will get to the Academy. With him recovered, he stands up and patted hard his clothes. It was full of dust after battling on the tiles. It has full of dust after many applicants battled there.
"So what's my rank?" Joan asked without reserve.
"That's still going to be assessed, but you are way beyond passing grade for me. And your stats are going to be evaluated together with your combat test. So you have to wait for a bit. After experiencing a battle with you, I am sure you have stats that are beyond fifty right? And you need a hundred in both strength and dexterity to evade my last slash. Even focus has to be above that to execute them well without fail," He asked Joan.
"Ugh, ahaha. Well, you see. You will be surprised if I told you it was lower than that. You can confirm it yourself though," Joan said while scratching his head.
"What? But how? I will check it for errors. For now, other applicants are waiting. Please wait in the lobby for a while, kay?" He said to him.
[Minor heal]
The proctor said while he used the skill. Making his tired and torn muscles repaired while his stamina refreshed. Making him alive and kicking again.
"Just as I thought, that explains why he can go all out all day," Joan said while looking at him went to greet the other applicant.
Isaias then arrived and was laughing at him. Stroking again his beard.
"Hahaha! I can't believe you made it to fifty in all of your stats. You regained half of your past strength in just a spar," Isaias said to him.
"Oh, geez. I almost forgot about you. You are watching all this time?" Joan asked.
"Of course, of course. Why not? I am observing your battles and I am impressed with that skill 'Stat manipulation'. Your growth is verily monstrous and impressive," Isaias said to him.
"Well, let us discuss that thing somewhere no one will hear us. I am drenched in sweat, gotta change before we wait for the result," Joan said to him.
"Hahaha, yeah. Let us get you to change and freshen up until we wait for the result." Isaias said to him.